Groups back DOTr’s multi-airport strategy

MANILA, Philippines — Several groups expressed support for the Department of Transportation’s plan to rehabilitate the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and develop other airports in Sangley Point, Cavite and in Bulakan, Bulacan, saying these would boost tourism and the economy, and subjecting the projects under solicited bidding process is consistent with the President’s good governance directive.

The groups – think tank Stratbase ADR Institute and citizen advocacy groups CitizenWatch Philippines and Bantay Konsyumer, Kalsada, Kuryente (BK3) –  in a statement  said they are supporting  the DOTr’s decision to undertake public bidding scheme under the amended Build-Operate-Transfer Law.

Stratbase president  Dindo Manhit said the long-term strategy for the airport will be a great legacy for the Marcos administration.

“Longstanding problems have hounded our primary gateway to the world, much to the disenfranchisement of local and foreign travelers alike. With the approval of the solicited proposal to rehabilitate the NAIA, finally, the work can begin and the country’s issues of low traffic capacity and inadequate facilities, among others, can be addressed,” he said.

Manhit said the qualities of a solicited proposal could be a key factor in the project’s success. “The government’s decision to go for the solicited bid is consistent with its priority of effecting good governance through transparency and equal opportunity,” he said in the statement.

“Qualified bidders are able to present their proposals competitively, where the bid most advantageous to the government, addressing the needs it itself specified, eventually wins.”

Former Rep. Christopher Belmonte, co-convenor of CitizenWatch Philippines, said the current state of the airport affects citizens in several ways: “directly, when we and our loved ones travel and are hampered by various choke points and burdened by delays, and indirectly, because of the numerous economic opportunities missed when investors get discouraged and bring their business somewhere else.”

“Our facilities at present are only able to serve 35 million passengers a year; we need to expand this capacity and make it accommodate at least 62 million passengers in the immediate future if we are to compete in the global economy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Patrick Climaco, secretary-general of BK3, said the potential to monetize the airport will yield funds that could be used for other projects or provide and improve basic social services.

“It will be the next generation that would benefit from a project of this scale,” Climaco said. “It is important that this project be made a priority and be implemented well so it could bring investments, jobs, and income, and so it could erase our airport infrastructure’s negative reputation.”

In their separate statements, the three groups expressed concern on the Office of the Ombudsman’s decision to dismiss Manila International Airport Authority chief Cesar Chiong based on an anonymous complaint for grave abuse of discretion and misconduct, saying that anybody who is telling the truth should not be afraid to reveal their identity.

“We hope that there will be a deeper probe into this case based on solid evidence and that the accusers should not hide behind anonymity if their charges have real basis,” Manhit said.